Chapter 17

Sophia's pulse thrummed in her ears, drowning out all sound but the frantic beating of her heart. She stood on the edge of something she hadn't expected to face—something raw, vulnerable, and terrifying.

Alexander's hand lingered on her cheek, his touch gentle, but there was an intensity behind it that left her breathless. She had spent so long protecting herself, shielding her heart from the world and the people in it. But here he was, making her question everything.

"Are you sure about this?" she whispered, her voice barely audible, as if speaking too loudly might shatter the fragile moment between them.

He didn't hesitate. "I've never been more sure of anything in my life, Sophia."

She could feel the heat of his gaze on her, the way his eyes darkened with a mix of desire and something deeper—something that made her want to let go of every fear, every doubt she'd ever had.

But the walls she had built around herself had been so carefully constructed, and it wasn't easy to simply let them crumble.

"I don't know if I can trust you," she said, her voice trembling slightly. "I don't know if I can trust anyone again."

Alexander stepped closer, his forehead gently resting against hers, his voice soft but firm. "I understand why you're afraid. I've seen the scars you carry. But I'm not here to hurt you, Sophia. I'm here to help you heal."

The sincerity in his voice struck her like a lightning bolt. She could feel the weight of his words settle deep inside her, and for the first time in a long while, she wanted to believe him.

A soft, nervous laugh escaped her lips. "You're asking me to trust you. But I'm the one who's always kept everyone at arm's length."

"Let me in, Sophia," he urged quietly, his voice like a whisper of hope. "You don't have to do this alone anymore."

Her throat tightened as she looked up at him. The depth of what he was offering was overwhelming, and it threatened to sweep her under. But despite the fear gnawing at her insides, she couldn't deny the pull she felt toward him—the undeniable connection that had been growing between them since the moment they'd met.

She closed her eyes for a moment, allowing herself to feel the weight of the choice she was about to make.

To trust.

To believe that someone might actually care for her, despite her flaws, despite the walls she'd built.

When she opened her eyes again, they locked with his, and she knew.

She couldn't keep running. Not from him. Not from what this could be.

"I'm scared, Alexander," she whispered, her voice thick with emotion. "But I want to try. I want to see where this goes."

A slow, relieved smile spread across his face, and he cupped her face in his hands, brushing his thumb across her cheek. "That's all I'm asking for. A chance."

Without another word, he leaned in, capturing her lips in a kiss. It was slow at first, tentative, as if they were both testing the waters of something they couldn't fully comprehend. But soon, the kiss deepened, and Sophia felt every ounce of tension in her body melt away, leaving only the heat of his touch and the dizzying sensation of being completely seen.

For the first time in years, she allowed herself to be vulnerable. To let someone in.

And in that moment, she realized that maybe—just maybe—she wasn't as alone as she had always thought.

Sophia woke up the next morning with a strange sense of calm she hadn't felt in ages. The world outside her window seemed quieter, the light more gentle, and for the first time in what felt like forever, she didn't feel the weight of the world pressing on her chest.

She could still feel the warmth of Alexander's kiss lingering on her lips, and her fingers brushed against her skin, remembering the way he had held her—like she was something worth protecting, something worth fighting for.

But the calmness didn't last long.

Her phone buzzed, pulling her from her thoughts. She glanced at the screen. It was a message from Ryan.

We need to talk about Leo.

Sophia's stomach twisted. She hadn't heard from Ryan in weeks, and now, when things between her and Alexander were beginning to shift in a way she hadn't expected, Ryan decided to reappear.

She sighed, glancing over at the empty side of the bed. It had become a habit to wake up and find Alexander gone, though she could still feel the warmth of his presence in the room. She wasn't sure what to make of this newfound connection, but one thing was for certain: she wasn't ready to lose it, not now. Not when she had just let herself fall.

Another buzz from her phone. She stared at it for a moment before responding.

What about Leo?

She stared at the message for several minutes, unsure how to proceed. Ryan had been a part of her life for years, but now that Alexander was here, the situation had become more complicated.

The thought of Leo being caught in the middle made her heart ache.

Her phone buzzed again.

I'm not trying to complicate things. But I think Leo deserves to know the truth about who I am to him.

Sophia ran a hand through her hair, her mind spinning.

What did he mean by the truth? She had already told Leo that Ryan wasn't around, that they had parted ways. But if Ryan was planning to insert himself back into Leo's life, Sophia couldn't just stand by and let it happen without thinking it through.

She sent a quick reply.

I'm not sure Leo is ready to hear anything from you right now.

She set the phone down, her thoughts racing. The last thing she wanted was to disrupt Leo's life, but there were no easy answers here. And Ryan's sudden insistence only made things worse.

But just as quickly as the moment of tension passed, another message popped up. It was from Alexander.

Can we talk?

Sophia bit her lip, fighting the urge to just bury her phone in the cushions and pretend none of it was happening. But she couldn't.

She picked it up and typed a response.

Yes. Come over in an hour.

—

An hour later, Alexander was at her door, his presence as commanding as ever. He stepped inside, his dark eyes searching hers with an intensity that made her breath catch.

"How are you?" he asked softly, stepping closer.

Sophia exhaled, her shoulders tense. "I've been better."

"Talk to me," he said gently, his voice a steady anchor in the storm brewing inside her.

She took a deep breath, trying to steady herself. "Ryan's back in the picture."

Alexander's brow furrowed. "What do you mean?"

"He wants to be a part of Leo's life again," she explained, feeling the weight of the words in her chest. "And I don't know how to deal with it. I don't know if Leo's ready, and I'm not sure I'm ready for Ryan to be a part of our lives again."

Alexander remained silent for a long moment, his eyes never leaving hers.

"You don't have to do this alone, you know," he finally said. "I'm here for you. Whatever you decide with Ryan, I'll be here to support you."

Sophia looked at him, her heart thudding in her chest. She had always been so used to handling everything on her own, to carrying the weight of her decisions without asking for help. But with Alexander, the idea of sharing that burden didn't feel so frightening anymore.

"I don't know what I'm supposed to do," she admitted, her voice shaky.

"You don't have to have all the answers right now," he said, stepping closer, his hand gently brushing her arm. "All I'm asking is that you trust me. Trust that I won't leave. Trust that you don't have to carry it all by yourself."

Sophia closed her eyes, feeling the raw emotion in his words. Could she really let herself lean on him? Let him be a part of this with her, despite the fear and the complications that came with it?

When she opened her eyes, she found him standing there, waiting for her to make a choice.

"I'm scared, Alexander," she whispered.

He gave her a soft, understanding smile. "I know. But I'll be here every step of the way, no matter what."

Her breath caught in her throat as his hand cupped her cheek, his touch warm and reassuring.

The weight of the decision still lingered, but for the first time in what felt like forever, she wasn't sure if she was afraid of the future. Maybe—just maybe—it wasn't as uncertain as it had always seemed.

And for the first time, Sophia let herself believe in something she hadn't dared to before:

Maybe everything would be okay.